Voice of America, 11 January 1996

From: "Ioannis V. Bousnakis" <[email protected]>

Voice of America Directory

CONTENTS

[01] THURSDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS FILLS THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE NATION'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS THIS THURSDAY. THE BLIZZARD OF '96 IS AMONG THEM, AS MUCH OF THE SNOW-CLOGGED EASTERN U-S BRACES FOR ANOTHER MAJOR WINTER STORM DUE TOMORROW. AMONG OTHER EDITORIAL TOPICS, WE FIND MORE TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL BUDGET IMPASSE; THE PLIGHT OF CHILDREN IN CHINA'S ORPHANAGES; ANOTHER SIGN OF PEACE SPREADING IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND THE ON-GOING VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN BOSNIA. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _____________ AND TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: BEGINNING WITH THE RECESS IN THE BUDGET TALKS BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE CONGRESS, TODAY'S "SUN" IN BALTIMORE SUGGESTS:

VOICE: "ONE OF THE WORST IDEAS TO COME OUT OF WASHINGTON THESE DAYS IS THE NOTION THAT VOTERS IN NOVEMBER, RATHER THAN ELECTED OFFICIALS IN JANUARY, SHOULD DECIDE WHETHER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, REPUBLICAN-STYLE, OR SAFEGUARD MEDICARE AND OTHER SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS, DEMOCRATIC-STYLE. PERHAPS SUCH CHATTER IS MERELY FOR NEGOTIATING PURPOSES IN ADVANCE OF A BUDGET AGREEMENT. BUT IT IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY ENOUGH TO SPOOK [UPSET, FRIGHTEN] FINANCIAL MARKETS, PERPLEX THE NATION'S GOVERNORS AND FORCE A REEXAMINATION OF WHAT THIS GOVERNMENT IS ALL ABOUT."

TEXT: A SIMILAR VIEW IS EXPRESSED BY THE NATIONAL WEEK-DAY PAPER, "USA TODAY" WHICH SAYS, IN PART:

VOICE: "THE 'SUSPENSION' OF BUDGET TALKS BETWEEN CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE IS AWFULLY CONVENIENT FOR ALL CONCERNED... FOR YEARS, CONGRESS HAS DONE LITTLE BUSINESS IN JANUARY; IT'S UNOFFICIAL OPEN SEASON FOR DISCREET WINTER VACATIONS AND TAXPAYER-PAID JUNKETS, SOMETIMES ONE AND THE SAME. IT'S PROBABLY NAIVE TO THINK THAT WOULD CHANGE JUST BECAUSE MANY AGENCIES AREN'T FUNDED FOR THE YEAR WHICH BEGAN OCTOBER FIRST... THIS POLITICAL THEATER, WHILE OVERLY LONG, SHOULD HELP FOCUS THE NATION ON THE CHOICES. "

TEXT: ON THE SAME SUBJECT, "THE WASHINGTON POST" COMMENTS:

VOICE: THE PRESIDENT AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS WERE CAREFUL TO PUT A CIVIL FACE ON TUESDAY'S DECISION TO SUSPEND THE BUDGET TALKS. WE TAKE THAT AS A GOOD SIGN, EVEN IF ALL IT MEANS IS THAT NEITHER SIDE WANTS TO BE BLAMED FOR BREAKING OFF THE TALKS. BOTH SIDES ALSO CONTINUE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOAL OF A BALANCED BUDGET; THAT TOO IS A USEFUL, IF FRAIL, DISCIPLINE."

TEXT: TURNING TO INTERNATIONAL TOPICS, THE RECENT REPORT OF A HUMAN RIGHTS WATCHDOG GROUP ON THE MISTREATMENT OF INFANTS IN CHINESE ORPHANAGES DRAWS THIS RESPONSE FROM TODAY'S "MIAMI HERALD."

VOICE: "AGAIN CHINA FRIGHTENS AND APPALLS WITH ITS DISREGARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. IN A GHASTLY BUT WELL-DOCUMENTED REPORT, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ACCUSES CHINA OF DELIBERATE STARVATION, MEDICAL NEGLECT, AND ABUSE OF ORPHANS. THE REPORT CANNOT BE IGNORED. IT HAS CLEARLY --- AND RIGHTLY -- STUNG CHINESE OFFICIALS, WHO BOTH DENOUNCE IT AS 'SHEER FABRICATION' AND INSIST THAT CONDITIONS HAVE 'IMPROVED.'"

TEXT: THE LEAD EDITORIAL IN "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," TITLED "CHINA'S DEADLY ORPHANAGES", CALLS THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT PROFOUNDLY DISPIRITING:

VOICE: "THE REPORT'S CONCLUSION THAT MORE THAN HALF OF CHINESE CHILDREN DON'T SURVIVE THEIR FIRST YEAR IN STATE CARE IS BOLSTERED BY A MOUJNTAIN OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS AND STATISTICS, DEATH CERTIFICATES AND GRUESOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILDREN IN VARIOUS STAGES OF TERMNNAL MALNUTRITION... AT THE CORE OF ... THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT IS THE CONVICTION THAT THIS IS NOT ACCIDENTAL OR THE RESULT OF INSUFFICIENT FUNDING. THE DEVASTATING CHARGE HERE IS THAT IT IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF OFFICIAL POLICY AND DECISIONS AIMED AT LIMITING THE NUMBERS OF CHILDREN ... IN STATE CARE AT ANY ONE TIME."

TEXT: THE "ORLANDO SENTINEL" WATCHED WITH INTEREST AS JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN VISITED ISRAEL YESTERDAY AND THEN WROTE TODAY IN AN EDITORIAL:

VOICE: "THE IMAGE OF JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN GREETING MASSES OF ISRAELI WELL-WISHERS ... DURING HIS FIRST PUBLIC VISIT TO TEL AVIV UNDERSCORED THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE PEACE PROCESS. THE ENTHUSIASM WAS GENUINE, THE POPULAR EMBRACE OF MR. HUSSEIN AS A NEW-FOUND FRIEND A REALITY."

TEXT: A LEADING DAILY IN THE SOUTHWEST, "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS", SAYS THAT CONTINUED ERUPTIONS OF VIOLENCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA "SHOULD MEAN [A] U-S EXIT."

VOICE: "ALMOST EVERYONE EXPECTED HOSTILITIES BETWEEN THE MUSLIMS AND SERBS TO BE THE MAJOR THREAT TO THE BOSNIAN PEACE ACCORD. FEW WOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED CROAT-MUSLIM TENSIONS TO THROW A WRENCH IN THE WORKS. [OPT] CROAT-MUSLIM TENSIONS? TRUE, THE CROATS AND MUSLIMS ENDED THEIR FIGHTING IN 1994, AND THE UNITED STATES BROKERED A FEDERATION BETWEEN THE TWO ETHNIC GROUPS. [END OPT] BUT HOSTILITIES BROKE OUT AGAIN BETWEEN THEM ON NEW YEAR'S DAY IN THE CITY OF MOSTAR... THE WORRY REMAINS THAT ABSENT A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE ACCORD BY 'ALL' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] THE PARTIES, THERE WILL BE NO PEACE TO IMPLEMENT. IF THE PEACE ENGAGEMENT DETERIORATES INTO A POLICE ENGAGEMENT, PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOULD ... WITHDRAW U-S FORCES."

TEXT: IN A SCIENTIFIC NOTE, TODAY'S "HOUSTON [TEXAS] CHRONICLE" REACTS TO A RECENT SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH.

VOICE: "THE ... CREATION OF A FEW ATOMS OF ANTIMATTER AT EUROPE'S CERN LABORATORY WILL NOT BRING RADICAL CHANGE TO THE WORLD WE INHABIT... HOWEVER, THE ACHIEVEMENT DOES PROVE THAT SUCH ATOMS CAN EXIST, HOWEVER BRIEFLY... AS SCIENCE APPROACHES THE POINT AT WHICH HUMANS CAN CREATE ALMOST ANYTHING THEY WISH, PROTON BY PROTON ... IT BEGINS TO SURPASS THE DREAMS OF ALCHEMY AND RIVAL THE PRODUCTS OF THE MOST IMAGINATIVE CREATORS OF SCIENCE FICTION."

TEXT: AND IN A DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENT ABOUT WHICH MUCH IS BEING WRITTEN, THE REVELATIONS THAT HILLARY CLINTON PLAYED A WIDER THAN-BEFORE- REALIZED-ROLE IN TWO CONTROVERSIAL EVENTS, THE WHITEWATER AFFAIR, AND THE FIRING OF THE WHITE HOUSE TRAVEL OFFICE STAFF, TODAY'S "NEWSDAY" ON LONG ISLAND COMMENTS:

VOICE: "THINK YOU'VE HAD A MISERABLE WEEK SINCE THE BLIZZARD BEGAN? BE GLAD YOU'RE NOT PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON OR HIS WIFE. IN THE PAST SEVEN DAYS HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON'S PAPER TRAILS HAVE LED TO DAMAGING CONCLUSIONS ABOUT HER ROLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE TRAVEL OFFICE FIRINGS AND HER LEGAL WORK FOR A SHADY [UNSCRUPULOUS] ARKANSAS SAVINGS AND LOAN... HER HUSBAND ... ADVISED US [THE MEDIA] ALL TO 'TAKE A DEEP BREATH, RELAX AND LISTEN TO THE FIRST LADY'S ANSWERS.' WE'VE 'BEEN' [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] LISTENING. AND LIKING WHAT WE HEAR LESS AND LESS."

TEXT: FINALLY, SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW THE RECENT BLIZZARD FITS INTO THE THEORY OF GLOBAL WARMING FROM "THE WASHINGTON TIMES."

VOICE: "OF ALL THE BAD TIMING: THERE WAS THE NEW YORK TIMES LAST WEEK WITH AN EXCLUSIVE, FRONT-PAGE STORY REPORTING THAT 1995 WAS THE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD. INSIDE WAS A PICTURE OF SOUTH AMERICAN BATHERS SIZZLING IN 'UNUSUALLY WARM TEMPERATURES' OF 110 DEGREES. RIGHT BELOW THE PICTURE WAS AN OMINOUS REMARK IN ENLARGED TYPE CITING SCIENTIFIC FEARS THAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES WERE CHARBROILING THE EARTH. BUT BEFORE ANYONE COULD SO MUCH AS REACH FOR THE A-1 SAUCE, [A POPULAR AMERICAN SAUCE FOR COOKED MEAT] IT BEGAN TO SNOW, FIRST IN THE MIDWEST AND THEN UP THE EASTERN SEABOARD, CLOSING DOWN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN WAYS OF WHICH FRESHMAN REPUBLICANS COULD ONLY DREAM... IF THIS IS WHAT THE NEW YORK TIMES MEANS BY GLOBAL WARMING, WELL, YOU CAN IMAGINE THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD HATE TO SEE WHAT GLOBAL COOLING FEELS LIKE. YES, A FEW MORE WEEKS OF WARMING LIKE THIS ONE, AND EVERYONE MAY FREEZE TO DEATH."

TEXT: AND ON THAT INTER-EDITORIAL BIT OF HUMOR, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF GLIMPSE OF WHAT SOME OF THE NATION'S PAPERS ARE WRITING ABOUT THIS THURSDAY, NEARING THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. NEB/ANG/PCH

11-Jan-96 12:35 PM EST (1735 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA U-S (L) BY WAYNE COREY (TUZLA)

INTRO: AMERICAN TROOPS OF THE NATO-LED PEACE IMPLEMENTATION FORCE ARE POURING INTO NORTH EASTERN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA AS THE U-S MILITARY DEPLOYMENT CONTINUES. THE FIRST RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE THERE SOON. V-O-A'S WAYNE COREY REPORTS FROM TUZLA AIRBASE.

TEXT: THERE IS A STEADY FLOW OF MILITARY VEHICLES IN AND OUT OF THIS HEADQUARTERS FOR TASK FORCE EAGLE -- THE CODE NAME OF THE U-S DEPLOYMENT TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA.

THERE IS AN EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE FLOW OF PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT BY AIR. WEDNESDAY 36 U-S MILITARY PLANES LANDED AT TUZLA AIRBASE. THIRTY FLIGHTS WERE SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY.

U-S ARMY COLONEL MICHAEL PERINI SAYS THERE ARE NOW ABOUT 75-HUNDRED AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA. THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE DEPLOYED AT SIX TO 10 BASE CAMPS BEING SET UP OUTSIDE TUZLA.

MOST OF THE SOLDIERS ARE ARRIVING OVERLAND FROM CROATIA ON A ROAD CALLED ROUTE ARIZONA, AFTER CROSSING A U-S MILITARY PONTOON BRIDGE OVER THE SAVA RIVER ON THE CROATIAN-BOSNIAN FRONTIER.

THE FIRST ELEMENTS OF A RUSSIAN BRIGADE ARE DUE TO ARRIVE IN TUZLA IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN TWO RUSSIAN TRANSPORT PLANES. THE RUSSIANS WILL HAVE ABOUT 16-HUNDRED TROOPS IN BOSNIA WHEN THEY ARE FULLY DEPLOYED.

A NORDIC BATALLION THAT WORKED UNDER THE U-N FLAG REMAINS IN PLACE IN THE AREA TO HELP IMPLEMENT THE PEACE AGREEMENT.

WHILE THE AMERICANS ARE SETTING UP THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE THEY ARE CARRYING OUT RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS TO EXPLORE THE TERRITORY IN WHICH THEY WILL OPERATE. U-S TROOPS ARE ALSO PATROLLING THE ZONES OF SEPARATION FROM WHICH THE FORMER WARRING FORCES MUST PULL BACK BY JANUARY 19TH. THAT PULL BACK WILL BE A CRITICAL TEST OF WHETHER THE MUSLIMS, SERBS, AND CROATS ARE HONORING THE BOSNIAN PEACE AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/WC/MH/RAE
11-Jan-96 10:38 AM EST (1538 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] CLINTON-BOSNIA (S & L) BY DAVID BORGIDA (WHITE HOUSE)

INTRO: FOR SECURITY REASONS, WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS HAVE DISCLOSED FEW LOGISTICAL DETAILS ABOUT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S WEEKEND VISIT TO BOSNIA. BUT AS V-O-A'S WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DAVID BORGIDA REPORTS, THEY ARE NOT RELUCTANT TO DISCUSS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE TRIP-- TO BOOST THE MORALE OF THE THOUSANDS OF U-S TROOPS TAKING PART IN THE NATO PEACEKEEPING FORCE THERE.

TEXT: SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS BRIEFING REPORTERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE STRESS THE PRESIDENT WANTS U-S FORCES TO KNOW THEY ARE DOING WHAT ONE CALLED "HEROIC WORK" UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER:

HE WANTS TO SHOW THE AMERICAN TROOPS BY HIS PRESENCE THE DEEP GRATITUDE AND PRIDE THAT HE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FEEL FOR THE EFFORTS THAT THEY ARE MAKING IN BOSNIA.

ARRIVING AT AVIANO AIR BASE IN ITALY SATURDAY, THE PRESIDENT WILL SPEAK WITH U-S TROOPS THERE AND IN TUZLA IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA AND AT TROOP STAGING AREAS IN HUNGARY. HE WILL ALSO MAKE DIPLOMATIC POINTS IN BRIEF TALKS WITH CROATIAN PRESIDENT FRANJO TUDJMAN AND BOSNIAN PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC. AGAIN, MR. BERGER:

AS HE TALKS TO THE PARTIES HE WILL EMPHASIZE THE HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY HAVE TO SEIZE THIS MOMENT TO BUILD AN ENDURING PEACE AND HE WILL URGE THEM OF COURSE TO COMPLY FULLY WITH THE AGREEMENT.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO WILL THANK HUNGARIANS AND THEIR PRESIDENT ARPAD GONCZ FOR SUPPORTING THE NATO EFFORT.

DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER BERGER SAYS THAT IS SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO DO.

THE PRESIDENT IS LOOKING FORWARD VERY MUCH TO THANKING THAT NATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF NATO'S OPERATION IN BOSNIA. WE SHOULD NOT OVERLOOK THIS ELEMENT OF THIS MISSION. LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE END OF THE COLD WAR, THIS FORMER WARSAW PACT NATION IS PROVIDING CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR A NATO MISSION IN ITS OWN TERRITORY. THIS DEVELOPMENT, ALONG WITH THE DISPATCH OF POLISH, CZECH , RUSSIAN, LITHUANIAN TROOPS TO BOSNIA, HAS BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE PRESIDENT CLINTON DEVOTED HIMSELF OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO BUILDING A PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE WITHIN THE UMBRELLA OF NATO AND OPENING NATO'S DOOR TO NEW MEMBERS.

SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS BRIEFING REPORTERS SAY THEY ARE MORE THAN SATISFIED WITH COMPLIANCE TO THE DAYTON AGREEMENT BY THE PARTIES AS WELL AS WITH CIVILIAN ACCEPTANCE OF NATO TROOPS.

THEY NOTE ABOUT SEVEN-THOUSAND TO SEVENTY-FIVE HUNDRED OF THE FULL U-S DEPLOYMENT OF TWENTY THOUSAND WILL BE IN BOSNIA THIS WEEKEND.

THE OFFICIALS REITERATE THEY ARE CONFIDENT PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL BE WELL-PROTECTED.

BUT THEY ADD HE WILL ENCOUNTER WHAT ONE CALLED "VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS," INCLUDING LOTS OF MUD.

PRESIDENT CLINTON LEAVES FOR EUROPE AFTER A POLITICAL TRIP TO TENNESSEE FRIDAY. HE WILL RETURN TO WASHINGTON LATE IN THE WEEKEND. (SIGNED)

NEB/BORG/LTJ/PT
11-Jan-96 3:54 PM EST (2054 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S-BOSNIA WAR CRIMES (S) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES SAYS WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS SHOULD BE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE SITE OF A REPORTED MASS GRAVE IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE LATEST REPORTED MASS GRAVE SITE IS AN IRON MINE IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA WHERE THE FIRST WAVES OF ETHNIC CLEANSING WERE CARRIED OUT BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS IN 1992. ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE MINE SOUTH OF THE TOWN OF LJUBIJA, CONTAINS THE BODIES OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS AND CROATS EXECUTED IN THE FIRST DAYS OF THE BOSNIAN WAR.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS SHOULD BE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE AREA AS SOON AS NATO FORCES IN BOSNIA ARE FULLY DEPLOYED. THE REPORT SAYS THE BOSNIAN SERBS ARE EXHUMING SEVERAL GRAVE SITES AND ARE TRANSFERRING THE BODIES TO THE IRON MINE WHERE THEY ARE DOUSED WITH CHEMICALS AND BURIED UNDER DEBRIS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GLYN DAVIES SAYS THE COVER-UP WILL NOT HELP.

THEY CAN TRY TO HIDE THAT EVIDENCE BUT THEY CAN'T HIDE THE CRIMES THAT THEY COMMITTED. THERE ARE TOO MANY WITNESSES, TOO MUCH REMAINING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AND TOO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT THE COVER-UP ITSELF.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THOSE SERBS ATTEMPTING TO COVER UP THE CRIME MAY BE OPEN TO PROSECUTION THEMSELVES AS ACCESSORIES TO MURDER. (SIGNED)

NEB/PT 11-Jan-96 4:07 PM EST (2107 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America